FEBRUARY 2019
FOR HOME & LIFESTYLE RETAILERS. EST.1975
INDUSTRY INSIDERS
We talk to the experts about the latest trends & products, 2018 highlights and what to look forward to in 2019 Proudly supported by the Australian Gift & Homewares Association - the Voice of the Industry
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Welcome to the Giftguide Industry Insiders issue, brought to you by the Australian Gift & Homewares Association (AGHA). As a trusted leader across the gift and homewares sector, the AGHA is delighted to bring you these important industry updates and valuable insider knowledge contained within.
In this issue
16 La La Land
8 Holiday Trading & Co
18 Flair Gifts and Home
10 Artiwood Educational Toys
20 Alfresco Gardenware
12 Villa Maison
22 Ladelle
14 Compendium Australia
24 ColCam Enterprises
On the cover, L to R: Andrew McGregor, Artiwood Educational Toys; Ludivine Chu, La La Land; Sharlene Toister, Compendium; Julia Longmuir, Alfresco Gardenware; James Gadsden, Ladelle; Rayna Hooper, Holiday Trading & Co; John Doyle, Flair Gifts & Home; Elly Clues, Villa Maison; Greg Collier, ColCam Enterprises
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contents
12 14 10 24
February 2018  5
forward
FASHION
Holiday Trading & Co was built and continues to be based on blending fashion and home to create inspirational lifestyle retail environments.
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holiday trading & co
N
ext year seems to be another year of celebrations with many companies including Holiday Trading & Co reaching an
anniversary milestone. Ten years in business is a great accomplishment and creative director, Rayna Hooper, says she is looking forward to launching some of her most beautiful ranges to date to mark the occasion. 2018 was a year of huge growth for the company with many great opportunities. “Our turnover grew by over 40 per cent nationally in Australia and we established our own sales team in New Zealand, which has positively driven our NZ sales right across both the North and South Islands. CLICK
+ TO READ MORE
“2018 saw a significant increase in our staff numbers. Particularly in production and design personnel, warehousing staff and the associated administration support that is required.”
February 2019 9
TOY STORY What started out as a personal passion 20 years ago, still remains at the heart of Artiwood Educational Toys today―a commitment to high-quality, ethically sourced, safe and creative toys.
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artiwood educational toys
A
ccording to the Australian Retailers Association’s executive
director, Russell Zimmerman, toys will be the number one choice this Christmas. “This year we are noticing a range of toys that are designed to stimulate imagination and creativity, which is a refreshing change from the technologydriven pattern we have seen in previous years,” he adds. This is good news for Aussie wholesaler, Artiwood Educational Toys, which specialises in eco-friendly and educational kids products. CLICK
+ TO READ MORE February 2019 11
Australia MADE IN FRANCE &
Dividing her time between France and Australia, Elly Clues gets the best of both worlds and loves to shares this with her clients.
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villa maison
F
or most people running
buying tours, generally of interest to our
their business is more than
Villa Maison clients, but we have also
enough to keep them busy,
introduced other tours for the general
however, for Villa Maison
public who want a fully supported, small,
director, Elly Clues, there are so many more things she loves to do, including buying tours in France.
bespoke and personal experience. “One of our tours this year is for a 50th birthday, and another tour for next year
“Combined with Villa Maison, our tours
is to celebrate a company’s 20 year
continue to be a part of my life, I just love
anniversary. I have done some special
it,” she enthuses.
buying tours this year where I have assisted
“This year we have launched four tour
clients to buy Brocante and ship it home
dates and two tours have sold out already.
and I have also considered day tours, but
We have retained our special Brocante
there are only so many days in the week!”
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+ TO READ MORE February 2019 13
DEEP impact 14  giftguideonline.com.au
Compendium Australia’s mission is to provide beautiful gifts that create meaningful human connections.
compendium australia
Comment Boxplease swap this one with the one on page 16, top right. Thanks.
S
tationery is becoming
“There is also certainly more awareness
trendy again, something
and desire these days to document our
that Compendium Australia
daily existence. Beautiful journals allow
owner & general manager,
us to do that so we can relive precious
Sharlene Toister, certainly has noticed.
memories, as well as leave a legacy for
“The gift of a beautiful book or a card with future generations. heartfelt sentiments makes for a treasured
“And in terms of stationery―who
keepsake,” she says. “Long after chocolate doesn’t love beautiful products has been eaten and flowers have wilted,
on their desk? It somehow makes
a beautiful card and book will still impart
getting through the work day a whole
their special emotions and memories.
lot easier.”
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+ TO READ MORE February 2019 15
THE REAL
world
Sydney based Australian business La La Land supports artists here and around the world by presenting their works on cards, gifts and homewares.
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la la land
L
a La Land is often used as a nickname for Los
Angeles, where the rich and famous live. For business partners and co-founders Ludivine Chu and Elie Azzi, this formed part of the inspiration when they named their newly launched Sydney brand La La Land. “La La Land was created in 2009 when we wanted to promote the work of local artists,”
“We try to pick artists that have something unique whether in their style or subject they choose.“
says Chu. “Elie thought of the name La La Land. We both thought it was easily remembered, it also sounds like a place and lots of people think artists are in ‘La La Land’ so we felt it was relevant.” CLICK
+ TO READ MORE February 2019 17
tell
SHOW &
Flair Gifts and Home is always looking for something different to ensure they can offer unique & unusual pieces to the Australian market.
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flair gifts & home
W
hile travelling the world as a senior
buyer for the Coles Myer Group, John Doyle saw an opportunity in the market for decorative items to be imported to Australia, and in 1992 Flair Gifts & Home made its debut. That same year his daughter, Amanda Brandt, joined the business and as the company grew so did her involvement. “Each and every season we never tire of the excitement in releasing new products and enjoying the positive reactions of our customers when purchasing our lines and adding them to their ranges,” says Brandt. CLICK
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zone GREEN
Alfresco Gardenware was born out of a love for gardens and a need for work/life balance.
T
he green
customer service and
movement warehouse team,” couldn’t says co-founder have come
at a better time for
Julia Longmuir. “We’ve also
Alfresco Gardenware,
landscaped our display
which had a great 2018
garden, improved our
and is looking forward to office and IT systems. an even better 2019. “We’ve had a fantastic
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China has been a bit of a struggle as they move
2018―new products,
towards a reduction
new customers, a solid
in carbon emissions,
alfresco gardenware
something we fully support, but it has had its impact on the production timeframes.� As people are becoming more and more environmentally aware, there is an increasing demand for products in the home to support a sustainable future.
CLICK
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ground up
FROM THE We talk to Ladelle owner and managing director, James Gadsden, about the brand’s achievements this year and what we can expect in 2019.
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ladelle
W
hen was the
2019 and what can we expect from
company
Ladelle in the new year?
launched and
There is an increased focus on
what have been
sustainability including organic product
the highlights & challenges so far?
ranges. We have implemented full supply
Ladelle Company was founded in 1983
chain audits of all suppliers to ensure they
and the Ashdene brand in 1990. Supply
meet covenants such as BSCI and FSC.
chain issues especially out of China, the
We have also ensured any harmful dyes
falling Australian dollar against the US
or ingredients used in manufacturing
dollar are lowlights and highlights have
have been replaced with environmentally
been great acceptance by the industry of
friendly ones. Where possible we are
our new ranges.
moving to natural and organically grown
What are some of the trends for
cottons for our textile ranges.
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journey
AN UNEXPECTED
The launch of ColCam Enterprises wasn’t planned but grew out of a wonderful opportunity and has evolved into a successful business.
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ColCam Enterprises
A
nimals always seem to get an emotional response, whether they are real or not. A big trend this year, as seen at the
overseas trade fairs, is big animal decorative pieces. In fact, the bigger the better! For Colcam Enterprises, the animal range has been its biggest seller. “Our unique animals have really hit the mark this year,” says Greg Collier, managing partner. “They just walk out the door!” “Our rope animals have developed from a simple puppy, and evolved into a huge popular range.” Colcam was launched in 2008 after helping one of the company’s Indonesian contacts showcasing his goods at a Sydney trade event. CLICK
+ TO READ MORE
February 2019 25